EYOF: Wright out to make up for English Schools' heartache in Turkey

By Charlie Talbot-Smith, Sportsbeat

MIDDLE-distance runner Alice Wright admits her English Schools' Championship disappointment will long be forgotten if she clocks a new personal best at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Trabzon.

 
BACK ON TRACK: After an untimely foot injury Alice Wright wants to get back to her best in the 3,000m in Turkey 

The 17-year-old, who will compete over 3,000m, is gearing up for her British debut at the biennial event, which will see 3,000 athletes from 48 nations descend on the Turkish Black Sea coast.

Wright was in impressive form earlier this season, taking victory at a cross-country event in Elgoibar, Spain but a foot injury ensured her outdoor campaign has stuttered somewhat.

She did bounce back to take English Schools' 3,000m silver earlier this month but believes gold was hers for the taking had she been fully fit.

Rather than dwell on her disappointment however, Wright has immediately turn her attentions to improving on her lifetime best of 9:39.98minutes out in Trabzon.

"It's a massive honour to have been selected to go to Turkey, it will be a massive event and really competitive so I'm really looking forward to it," said Wright.

"I really wanted to win at the English Schools' so it was a bit disappointing to finish second there but I wasn't quite race sharp and lost out at the finish.

"But I have been working hard and getting my racing fitness back out on the track and have posted some pretty good times in training.

"The competition will definitely be tough out in Turkey and it's hard to know what you will be up against but if I can run my best then I will be aiming to get in the top three.

"I also really want to run a personal best, I've managed a 9:39 minutes but my aim is to get down below 9:35 so ideally that would be out in Turkey - that would be amazing."

Wright is one of 64 Brits, all of which will be making their international debuts, selected for the trip to Turkey, and she is keeping her fingers crossed her first Olympic appearance won't be her last.

"I got sent some of my GB kit just the other day, it's always been a dream of mine to pull on a GB vest so the moment it came I tried it all on," she added.

"It felt great so now I just can't wait to get out there and race in it. It's the first step to my long-term goal of one day winning a long distance gold medal at the Olympics."

Lloyds TSB is a Proud Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Official Supporter of Team GB on their journey to the European Youth Olympic Festival. Visit: www.lloydstsb.com/london2012

(c) Sportsbeat 2011